5 Tips for a Successful Cookie Swap!
Have you been to a cookie swap? Basically, a cookie swap is a party where all the guests bring cookies to share with others - so everyone goes home with new treats to try! With smaller gatherings still being the name of the game this year, cookie swaps are a great way to get together with a small group of friends or family - and eat plenty of cookies. Here’s a few tips for a successful event:
1) Let everyone know the number of cookies to bring- and account for size!
Make sure your invitees have an idea of what to bring, and remind them to keep size in mind. For example, depending on the size and appetite of your guest list, tell folks to bring ‘a dozen large cookies, or two dozen small cookies’ to accommodate intense iced creations as well as small one-bite shortbreads.
2) Provide treat bags for easy take-home containers
Your guests will likely already bring their creations in containers, but it’s easy to forget to bring an additional container to take cookies home in! Have holiday themed treat bags ready to roll, or be prepared to have additional reusable containers to pass out.
3) Have extra cookies to decorate!
The idea of a cookie swap is to take home a bunch of cookies - not to eat them all at the party! Dive into the cookie theme and have sugar cookies available to decorate as an activity (and as a distraction from the ones meant for exchange.)
4) Keep it low-key.
Some hosts like to manage their cookie swaps with a theme (like all chocolate) or rules about home baking. I recommend keeping it open so folks feel welcome, whether they’re a baker or not! You never know what kind of great family recipes or local bakery treats a guest might bring when unrestricted by rules.
5) Try a Michigan recipe!
We’ve got great recipes from Michigan sources on our blog :
... And that’s a great way for the cookie to crumble! Do you have great tips for a successful cookie swap? Let us know!
Claire Butler is the Communications Coordinator for Taste the Local Difference.